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Still another of the ancient Closes swept away to make Whitehall
Street was that which was latterly known as "Key's Close."
It stood between Whitehall Close and Scott's Close, to the east
of the former. This passage was in existence about 1450, and in
it was the house of Treasurer Brown, where his son George, afterwards
Bishop of Dunkeld, was born. In 1485 the Bishop founded the Altar
of the Three Kings of Cologne in St. Mary's Church, and handed over
the house of his birth, with other properties, for this purpose.
The occupant at that time Will Schippert, a leading baker of the
period and in the charter; the passage is described as "Will
Schippert's Close." For centuries afterwards the Close was
associated with the Baker Trade.
About 1730 Andrew Watson, baker, acquired property in the Close,
and the name changed to "Andrew Watson's Close," which
designation remained till long after his death in 1780. William
Key, cabinet-maker, and Deacon of the Wright's Trade, purchased
a house here in 1804, and the name was again altered to "Key's
Close," which was retained until the Close was removed.
The Wright Trade acquired an extensive portion of buildings, and
formed the Wright's Hall, which was used for trade and public meetings.
Thomas Colville & Son, the leading printers in Dundee, occupied
Key's house in 1816, and from it was issued the first number of
the "Dundee Weekly Courier" in September of tthat year.
In November, 1823, David Hill succeeded Colville, and continued
to issue the "Courier" from Key's Close till Aprill, 1861,
when the printing-office was removed to New Inn Entry. Here it remained
till November 1892 when it was transferred to the new building in
Lindsay Street. In June, 1906, Messers. D. C. Thomson & Co.,
Ltd., again removed to splendid new "Courier Buildings"
in Albert Square and Ward Road, erected by the firm.
Source: 'Glimpses of Old and New Dundee' - A.H. Millar, January
1925
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